The Turkish foreign minister resigned today, virtually signing the death warrant for the ailing prime minister's government.
Mr Ismail Cem was the seventh Cabinet minister to leave Mr Bulent Ecevit's administration since Monday.
Ealy elections now seem inevitable in the autumn.
The government has been largely paralysed since Mr Ecevit (77) was taken ill in May. He has since either been in hospital or at home recuperating.
Mr Cem said he would give his reasons for resigning tomorrow.
Turkish media has been speculating that Mr Cem will join a new political party led by former Deputy Premier Husamettin Ozkan, who resigned on Monday.
One of the most prominent figures in Mr Ecevit's party, Mr Cem served as foreign minister under three different governments since 1997.
He played a key role in developing Turkey's ties with the European Union and establishing warm relations with arch-rival Greece.
The resignation of the foreign minister comes as the country takes over leadership of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan and Washington is considering military action against Iraq.
Being a secular Islamic state, Turkey is a vital member of NATO, and has one of the world's largest standing armies.
Turkey borders Iraq and still hosts RAF and US aircraft which patrol the northern no-fly zone imposed at the end of the Gulf War.
AP